How to Deregister Your Car in Singapore (Step-by-Step)

Deregistering a car is one of the most financially significant decisions you'll make as a Singapore vehicle owner — yet most guides stop at "log in to OneMotoring." The mechanics are simple. The strategy is not. The timing of when you deregister directly determines how much money you walk away with, and whether that figure is S$18,000 or S$2,000 can hinge entirely on when your car was registered.

This guide covers the full process: how deregistration works, how to calculate what you'll receive, and the key differences between scrap and export.

What Happens When You Deregister?

When you deregister a vehicle in Singapore, the car is permanently removed from the vehicle population. You receive two types of rebates:

1. PARF Rebate — the Preferential Additional Registration Fee refund, based on a percentage of the ARF you paid when the car was first registered. This applies only if the car has never had its COE renewed. Once you renew, PARF is forfeited.

2. COE Rebate — the pro-rated residual value of your current COE period. If you have 3 years left on a 10-year COE you paid S$100,000 for, you would receive roughly S$30,000 in COE rebate (before any adjustments).

The total deregister value = PARF rebate + COE rebate + body/scrap value.

How to Calculate Your Deregistration Value

PARF Rebate Calculation

For cars registered before 13 February 2026 (old PARF scheme): - Less than 5 years old: 75% of ARF paid - 5–6 years old: 70% - 6–7 years old: 65% - 7–8 years old: 60% - 8–9 years old: 55% - 9–10 years old: 50%

For cars registered from 13 February 2026 (Budget 2026 new scheme): - Less than 5 years old: 30% of ARF paid (was 75%) - 9–10 years old: 5% of ARF paid (was 50%) - Maximum cap: S$30,000 (was S$60,000)

This is the single biggest policy change in recent years. If your car was registered before the Budget 2026 cut-off date and you're considering deregistering in the next few years, you are holding a more valuable asset than someone who bought new in March 2026.

Example Calculation (Pre-2026 Car) - OMV: S$25,000 - ARF paid: (S$20,000 × 100%) + (S$5,000 × 140%) = S$27,000 - Age at deregistration: 8 years → 60% of ARF - PARF Rebate: S$27,000 × 60% = S$16,200

COE Rebate Calculation If the car has 2 years remaining on a 10-year COE that cost S$95,000: - COE Rebate: (2/10) × S$95,000 = S$19,000

Total Rebate: S$16,200 + S$19,000 = S$35,200 before body value.

Use LTA's OneMotoring portal to check your car's exact PARF and COE rebate values — they are calculated based on your specific registration date and ARF amount, not estimates.

The Deregistration Process via LTA

Step 1: Decide — Scrap or Export

You must first decide whether to scrap the vehicle locally or export it. This choice affects how much additional body value you receive on top of the government rebates:

• Scrap locally: An LTA-licensed scrapyard pays for the metal value. This is typically S$500–S$2,000 depending on the vehicle.
• Export: A licensed exporter pays you the body value at market rate. Popular models in good condition (Toyota Alphard, Mercedes C-Class) can fetch S$5,000–S$15,000+ from exporters, significantly more than scrap. Obscure or poorly maintained cars may get similar or lower offers.

Get quotes from multiple exporters before committing. The difference can be substantial.

Step 2: Arrange Deregistration via OneMotoring

Log in to the LTA OneMotoring portal (onemotoring.lta.gov.sg). Under "Vehicle Ownership," navigate to "De-register Vehicle." You'll need: - NRIC/Singpass login - Vehicle registration number - Outstanding loan status (loan must be settled or lender must consent)

If there is an outstanding car loan, the lender (bank or finance company) must co-authorise the deregistration. Clear the loan first, or arrange for simultaneous loan settlement from the rebate proceeds.

Step 3: Select Your Authorised Dealer or Exporter

If scrapping, select an LTA-authorised vehicle recycling company. If exporting, the export arrangement is typically handled outside OneMotoring — the exporter will manage the paperwork and notify LTA once export is confirmed.

Step 4: Surrender the Vehicle

Drive or arrange transport of the vehicle to your selected scrapyard or exporter. Hand over the vehicle registration card (VRC) and keys.

Step 5: Receive Your Rebates

PARF and COE rebates are paid by LTA directly to your registered bank account, typically within 3–5 business days of vehicle surrender. The scrap or body value is paid by the scrapyard or exporter separately.

How to Encash Your COE Rebate

The term "encash COE rebate" simply means receiving the COE pro-rated rebate payment after deregistration. There is no special process to "encash" it separately — it is automatically paid to your bank account along with the PARF rebate after the vehicle is surrendered and LTA processes the deregistration.

If you are exporting the car, make sure the exporter has submitted the export notification to LTA before the vehicle physically leaves Singapore. This triggers the rebate payment.

Should You Deregister Now or Wait?

This depends on two factors: how close you are to year 9 or 10 (when PARF drops to its lowest rate), and whether you need the cash now. For pre-2026 cars, deregistering at year 8 (before the rebate drops from 60% to 55%) rather than year 9 preserves more PARF value — but you lose a year of driving.

For post-2026 cars, the calculus has shifted. With the PARF rebate at 5% by year 9, there's very little financial incentive to deregister early. You're better off driving to the full 10 years to amortise the high upfront ARF cost.

The Singapore COE Navigator includes a worked deregistration calculator and a timing decision matrix that shows you, given your specific car's ARF, COE cost, and registration date, exactly when the optimal deregistration window is — or whether renewing is actually the cheaper path.